WASHINGTON TERRACE — Rohmer Park boasts a playground, multiple playing fields, a well-known sledding hill, a running path and a great view on its 19.15 acres.
But the latest park additions have the community feeling exceptionally proud.
City officials recently unveiled a new electronic, wireless scoreboard.
“It has made our field look like one of the best,” said Aaron Solomon, parks and recreation director for Washington Terrace. “It has made a huge difference. Everyone is excited.”
The 150 football players participating in the Washington Terrace Titan football program and their 25 coaches are particularly excited, Solomon said. Titan football includes youths age 7 through 13, from Riverdale and Washington Terrace.
Kelly Stark, a parent of a Titan football player, donated time and paint to affix a large Titan logo on a wall across the field from the new scoreboard.
“We can feel the community pride,” said Jeff Montague, who watched as his son practice football Friday night.
The additions will put Washington Terrace’s field in the same league as some of other teams Titan football plays, parents agreed. The Titans play teams in the area, including Clinton, Clearfield, South Ogden, North Summit, Bear River, Morgan and Kaysville.
“We finally have a football field,” said parent Angela Hansen, who has watched the Titans play for four years now. “We are possessive of it.”
The new sign and related engineering and installation cost about $15,000. Funds were contributed by the Lions Club, RAMP, a community spaghetti dinner and Washington Terrace city.
“What I like the most is it has brought the football community together for a common cause,” said Tom Hanson, Washington Terrace city manager. “It’s a wonderful thing, a metaphor for the community. It’s what is right with Washington Terrace.”
He said the RAMP funding has been particularly helpful.
“RAMP funding supports the active and functional use of recreation,” Hanson said. “This (the scoreboard) functionally works here.”
Solomon said excitement created by Titan football seems to be rubbing off on other city recreation programs. Enrollment is up in other sporting programs, he said.
Solomon is particularly pleased to see the community rally around the football program. He said parents used to simply drop their kids off for football practice. Now, parents stay and watch on lawn chairs or blankets while their other kids play with toys or ride scooters.
The night of the unveiling was no exception. Dogs were on leashes, babies wore their pajamas, music blasted from vehicles, football supporters sat on truck tailgates, and parents and grandparents tried to corral children.
“Times have changed,” Solomon said. “It has turned into something to do.”
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